FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – State Rep. Micah Neal said Friday (May 1) he is running for the Washington County judge seat in the 2016 election.
With Neal’s decision, former Washington County Assessor Jeff Williams told 5NEWS on Friday he is a candidate for Neal’s current Springdale House seat. Williams, a Republican, ran unsuccessfully last year against Washington County Judge Marilyn Edwards, a Democrat. Edwards, 76, has said she will not seek re-election to the county judge seat.
Neal, a 40-year-old Republican serving in his second two-year term in the state House, said county roads and bridges will be a top priority of his if elected. He said he wants a thorough examination of the county’s construction equipment and bridge-building capabilities.
The issue of county bridge-building became news late last year and escalated in recent weeks after the county admitted making mistakes in bridge construction. After learning the Stonewall bridge near Prairie Grove was being built improperly, the county earlier this year tore down the bridge’s piers. Late last month, the Quorum Court asked Justice of the Peace Eva Madison and Assessor Russell Hill to investigate faulty bridge construction. The results of their investigation will be presented to the Quorum Court on Tuesday.
Neal, owner of Neal’s Cafe, a fixture in Springdale since 1944, also served on the Washington County Quorum Court for nine years.
As a legislator, Neal succeeded in getting a measure approved that speeds up state reimbursement to counties for the medical care that state prisoners receive while in county custody. Neal also noted he has been a proponent for tax cuts, including voting at the Legislature for the largest tax cut in state history.
Madison, who has been mentioned as a potential candidate for county judge, said she is not seeking the seat.
